Lauda says Rosberg to sign 2-year deal

Nico Rosberg appears poised to ink a new contract and stay with Mercedes for the next two years.

With his negotiations being headed by family friend Gerhard Berger, Rosberg was said to be butting heads with Mercedes not only over money, but also the length of his contract extension beyond 2016.

But as the German prepared to celebrate his 31st birthday with his wife Vivian in Ibiza, Rosberg was surprised when Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda walked into their ice-cream parlour ’Vivi’s Creamery’ with his own wife.

Vivi’s Creamery published a photo of the visit on its Facebook page, while Bild newspaper explained that Lauda had taken his new boat to Ibiza on its maiden voyage.

After enjoying an ice-cream, Lauda said: "We are quite agreed on a new two-year contract.

"The details have yet to be worked out."

Asked if a new contract is Rosberg’s birthday present, the F1 legend smiled: "No, he has earned it."